Windows 7: Windows firewall blocking media streaming

Hey there,

So I'm using windows 7 64bit and am trying to set up homegroup with my ps3 problem i have is i can't turn on media streaming, network discovery,or file and printer sharing. if i turn network discovery and file sharing on they just reset to off and if i click turn on media streaming the button goes gray for a second then nothing. however if i disable windows firewall it all works perfectly but of course i don't really want to leave it disabled ....and ideas?



p.s I've tried restoring windows firewall to defaults a few times but to no avail

The second post down in the link below mentions turning on Windows services to fix this problem.
Just type services.msc into the run window to get to Windows services.

Network Discovery keeps turning itself back OFF ???

I've done a few searches since posting this and making sure the services were running and set to automatic was something that came up a lot although the list of services that should be running varied. I've checked the ones on your link and there all running and set to auto the other things I've tried are running command prompt to scan for missing files (sorry i can't remember exactly what i typed in it) and the result was that no files were missing and resetting windows firewall to default. all of these haven't had any effect,but as soon as i turn windows firewall off network discovery printer sharing and media streaming are all switched on

i also have AVG installed some forums suggested having more then one anti virus program may have some effect. i've uninstalled it and there was no change so i reinstalled it

If those services are running you should be having no problems with streaming. I can't say why streaming won't work but I seldom hear complaints about streaming, though I suspect there is an underlying condition that is causing this it's hard to make an accurate diagnoses from here.

The link below describes the process of setting up media streaming with a PS3 and Windows 7.
http://www.ehow.com/how_12091591_ps3-windows-7.html

I would also try a complete uninstall of AVG using their uninstall utility program.
AVG | Download tools and utilities

This is a pure windows firewall issue IMO as you turn off the firewall and you can stream turn on the firewall you cannot stream.

Check windows media player .exe file is allowed thru the windows firewall and the windows media file networking sharing serice is allowed thru the firewall as well.

You may need to check the outgoing rules to ensure they are allowed thru.

Ps3 does not support homegroup but this should not be a problem it is a configuration issue in your firewall.

If you set up streaming, or file sharing correctly there won't be any need to mess with Windows firewall. All those settings are automatic when you set up shares or streaming in Windows 7.

All that strange behavior like not being able to turn on file and printer sharing or network discovery or even media streaming are just symptoms of an underlying problem which has nothing to do with Windows firewall.

I've set up streaming and file shares on countless machines and never once needed to mess with Windows firewall, this is because as you go through the proper steps to set up streaming or sharing the exceptions are automatically created for the firewall.

What your seeing here is a symptom of another problem, like AVG "very likely" or improper set up on the PS3 which I have already posted directions for.

I should also mention that the directions for setting up the PS3 streaming does mention a Homegroup being set up.

Step 9
Click the arrow next to the "Stream" button. Click "Turn on Media Streaming With HomeGroup." Click the drop-down box next to "Show Devices on" and click "All Networks."

Step 10
Click the drop-down box next to "Unknown Device" (the PS3) and click "Allow." Click "Apply" and click "OK."

The second you hit the Allow button for the Unknown Device which is the PS3, the exception for the firewall is automatically created.

I've been able to get around my problem by using 3rd part software (ps3 media server) so at least there's some good news, I've taken all the steps you've both suggested and sadly still no luck

the only thing that springs to mind is a few weeks ago i had an odd issue with windows firewall i believe it was caused by a virus where it would show a message something like "windows firewall is not configured to defaults suggest using default settings" and clicking on use default setting gave an error code (0x8007) if i remember correctly i had to re download the registry files and base filtering engine i don't know if this would shine any light on the problem im afraid im not very good at this stuff

I'm gonna mark the thread as solved as I've managed to do what i originally wanted to but if you have any other ideas i'd welcome them if not thank you both very much for your help

From what you just mentioned here about the virus messing stuff up makes perfect sense. The type of problems you were seeing were not normal and like I mentioned before there seems to be an underlying problem here.

Once you start messing with the registry all bets are off on anything else working correctly and it's no wonder you had problems getting those services to stay on.

I'm rather surprised that running the sfc/scannow command didn't show any file integrity problems, but if the problem was in the registry it wouldn't register as a file integrity problem anyway.

I'm glad you have it working for now however, I would not trust this system to behave correctly long term, in fact and no offense, I would not trust this system to perform correctly at all.

If it was me I would punt the Op system and perform a clean install from the Windows CD. The problem with that is most people would rather cut off their arm than reinstall an Op system for some reason.

You might want to consider setting up the Windows File Recovery next time with a system image on another drive so you can recovery from problems like this more easily.